Quote Originally Posted by ccga3359 View Post
It would appear that now tats are fads and I would agree with that statement. When I got my first tattoo 27 years ago it most certainly not a mainstream thing and not where soccer moms and professionals alike are running out to get a trendy tattoo. You did ask for advice and those of us that are tattooed will give it. We are not saying don't get one we are saying make sure you want one, make sure you put thought into it, make sure you you realize that you'll be wearing it (or a scar of it) for the rest of your life. This is the first piece of advice any inked person will give.

You've heard a one or two negative comments by people that don't like tattoos, thats just a small sample of reactions we'd get two decades ago. Also allow me that in the almost 3 decades of being tattooed there has not been one single day that I've regretted having them. They are a part of me and signify personal chapters in my life.

Consider this (my highlight):



Opening a thread like this is going to generate a lot of advice for and against. To be brusque to WClarkB because his comments do not agree with your thoughts suggest to me at least that perhaps you are not ready for a tattoo.

You mention a "Glorious history of tattoos in the Navy" I sincerly hope that this is not even a minor reason for you to get inked because one can also say that there is a glorious history of tattoos in the outlaw biker gangs.

I'm not here to dissuade you from getting a tattoo, in fact I do believe that you are on the right path as you are considering a design of something that is very important to you and will mean something to you 60 years on. Spur of the moment thing - don't do it. A lot of thought and time considering it - get it and welcome to the brotherhood.

Now post your design ideas.
I dont believe I was being out of line at all. I asked for advice on design, and simply let him know that I did not need his remarks on his personal feeling regarding ink. I have been considering getting a tattoo for nearly a year now, I just recently started to think about it seriously again.

Me asking for advice on design is just throwing idea against a wall to see what sticks, if anything. I doesnt mean that I am going to go out and tomorrow and get the first bright idea that popped into my head as a tat because it seemed like the "cool" thing to do

Sorry to turn this into an argument, but if all you want to do is chide me for considering a tattoo then please dont post here. All I was asking for was a translation, (thanks Slohairt) and some design ideas and feedback. If we cant leave it at that I will just have the mods close this thread down before it gets nasty and realise that this forum is not a welcome place for my questions on tattoos.

Thanks Mikey for the pic, that was exactly the tat I was looking for and I really like that rampant lion with the knot work. More stuff to chew over in my head.